Auxiliary ignition system fob in



c. MAIER 42,354,035

2 Sheets-Sheet l July 18, 1944.

y AUXILIARY IGNITION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov. 1o', 1941 July 18, 1944. v CQE. MAIER 2,354,035

AUXILIARY IGNITION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov. 10, 1941 2 Shee's-fShee'cl 2 Duim 1 I Caf aber' i Patented July 18, 1944 omino4 STAT AUXILIARY IGNITION SYSTEM FOR IN- TERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES can E. Maier, chicago, In., assigner to Black- "stone Manufacturing Co., Inc., (a corporation of Illinois *A Chicago,` v,111.,

. AplicationNovmbe 1o, 1941, serial No. 118,460 a iclaim, (01.200-42),

This invention relates to `auxiliary ignitionsystems for internal combustionengines.

Generally, ignition systems or internal combustion engines are highly elcient and reliable in service. However, with prolongedusage the liability of failure-.or breakdowniof the system is increased. The contact surfaces ofl the breaker points becomepitted and reduce the; eciency nof theengine. Both the induction' coil and condenser may fail, correspondingly causing the system to fail and necessitating a curtailment in the operation of the engine pending replacement or repair of the defective parts.

Having in mind the foregoing limitations of present ignition systems, it is, therefore, the obapplicable to existing systems for efficiently continuing the operation of the'engine after failure of one or more of the parts in the systems A further object i this invention is the provision of switching means whereby the auxiliary ignition system may be cut in upon failure of the originally installed system. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

through?.l the Alli ject of this invention to provideauxiliarymeans ventional ignition system for internal combustion engine with the auxiliary system applied thereto and operating in conjunction therewith. Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of a complete switching unit embodied in my invention.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar View looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional View on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a similar view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a detail looking in the direction of arrows 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

- ,.Referringto thedrawingsFig. l diagrammatically illustrates a conventional ignition system comprising a battery l5 connected to an ignition switch I6 in circuit with 'the primary winding I8 of an induction coil i9 which isv connectedr to a circuit breaker 2B. actuated by a cam 3i. The primary winding is wound around an iron core as shown. The shaft of the said cam carries the distributor rotor 22 which in conventional systems is usually connected with the secondary winding 24 of the coil lI9. and which cooperates with the terminals 25 connected to the spark plugs. 26. vThe 4condenser usually connected 'across thebreaker points 2011s indicated vby the numeral 28..

:Theauxiliary system whichvconstitutes the subject matter of this invention includes a switch indicated generally by the numeral 30, an induction coil 3|, the primary winding 33 oi which operates as an. electromagnet circuit interrupter to producea llow of high tension current from the secondary winding-34 delivered ini proper sequence to the spark plugs 26by the 'rotory 22.

In the particular formof auxiliary .coil 3| herein disclosed,1-the.primarywinding 33 is provided with an iron core 36 which actuates the vibrating armature 31 to interrupt the current through the primary winding 33` in the well vknown manner. A condenser T38 7is` connected across the contactpointA 39l.and the contact point on the armature 31.

The switch 3D hereinbefore referred to comprises a casing 4| formed of; plasticor other suitable insulating material and provided With a plurality of apertured bosses 42, 43 and 44 arranged .to accommodate :metal vcontact elements 45546 and ,4.71, respectively.'v The said. apertured bosses provide sockets for the reception of wires hereinafter to be described. Another pair of bosses 49 and 50 are provided in the lower portion of the casing 4| and are arranged to receive contact posts 52 and 53 respectively. Associated with the casing 4| is a metal section 54 having an extended neck portion 55 housing a conventional cylinder lock 59. Nuts 56 and 51 in threaded engagement with the neck 55 serve to secure the switch 3l) to a dashboard 58 as illustrated.

The cylinder 59 is provided at one end with a squared recess 6| to receive a stem 62 having a correspondingly shaped end portion.' An insulating washer 64 having a central square aperture is mounted on the squared end of the stem 62 and is arranged to be rotated simultaneously therewith. A metal disc 66 provided with two embossed portions 68 is mounted on the washer the member 16 to accommodate the stem 62 without contacting saine.

The embossed portions 68 of the ydisc 85A are ar Y, f ranged to register with the nuts 14, when the' stem 62 is selectively rotated as by the key 15 in the cylinder, and to serve as an electrical conductor therebetween. A spring 11 serves to urger the disc 66 against the nuts or inserts 14 particularly when the embossed portions 68 are in regstering alinementvtherewith. The contact posts 52 and 53 are connected to screws 13 and13a respectively by Wires 19 and 88.

Mounted on the end of the stem 62 for movement therewith is an insulated member 62 provided with a spring member 83 riveted over a metal projection 84 and carrying a contact element 85. The said contact element is maintained in constant engagement with contact element 45 while the stem 62 may be selectively rotated to move the projection 84 into engagement with either of the contact elements 46 or 41 as desired.

The device may consist of two separate units, the switch 38 and coil 3|, or the same may be combined in a single casing. In either case the device is adapted for mounting on an instrument panel or the like and is readily connected in service simply by detaching the high tension wire 81 normally connected to the rotor 22 and plugging the same into the socket 43. The lead 88 from the secondary winding 34 of the coil v3| is similarly plugged into the socket 44. The rotor 22 is connected byk wiring 89 to the socket 42 of switch 30. Contact post 53 is connected by wiring l 98 to the positive terminal of the battery l?- and contact post 52 is'connected by wiring 9|.to contact point 39.

The switch 38 may -be actuatedto cut in the auxiliary system in service, or to cut out the same and restore the original connections of the ignition system. Since the members 66 and 82 kare both xedly mounted on the stem 62, it is readily seen that by turning the key 15, one quarter of a turn, clockwise or counterclockwise, as the case may be, the original ignition system may be cut out and the auxiliary system cut in service.

In the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the switch 38 is shown as cutting in the auxiliary ignition system and cutting out the original system. The current ows from the battery I5, through the wire 98, member 66, wire 9|, vibrating armature 31 and primary winding 33 where it is converted to high tension current which then passes through wire 88, member 83, wire 89 to rotor 22 of the distributor where it is delivered in proper sequence to the spark plugs 26.

When it is desired to cut out the auxiliary sys- I tem and to revert to the original ignition system,

member 83 engages the contact element 46, and embossings 68 of member 66 are out of engagement with the nuts 14, 14 electrically connected to contact posts 52 and 53. In this case the current follows the conventional ignition owing irom the secondary winding 24 through wire 81, contact element 46, member 83 and wire 89 to distributor rotor 22 where it is delivered in proper sequence to the spark plugs 26.

From the foregoing, it will thus be seen that the invention provides a complete auxiliary ignition system which may be readily cut into service upon failure of the original system.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A switch comprising an insulating casing having an extended neck portion housing a cylinder lock, a stem mounted coaxially with said lock and rotatable therewith, an insulating disc mounted on one end of said stem and rotatable therewith, said insulating disc having a pair of integral contact elements mounted thereon, an insulating memberv mounted in said casing through which said stem merely extends, said insulating member carrying a pair of opposed contact members arranged to register with said contact elements when said stem is selectively rotated as by a key in said lock, spring means for urging said contact elements and said contact members in engagement, anda contact element .insulatably mounted on the other end of said stem and rotatable therewith, said contact element arranged to selectively bridge a contact terminal mounted in said casing coaxially with said stem and one of two contacts mounted radially thereof. Y g

CARL' E. MAIER. 

